Utah People's Post

The Latest News from the Beehive State

Friday, September 22, 2023
Log in
  • National News
    • Female Caseworker Killed & Doctor Shot in Philadelphia
  • State News
    • Car Chase Leads to Drug Arrest
  • Tech & Science
  • Health
    • How to Prepare For Ticks Season
    • Magical Weight Loss Bean Scam
  • Sports
  • Business
You are here: Home / Tech & Science / Cat parasite found in Arctic Beluga Whales

Cat parasite found in Arctic Beluga Whales

February 15, 2014 Posted by Staff

beluga-whale

According to the scientists the cat parasite Toxoplasma gondii affected the Arctic Beluga whales, which cause blindness in people in the western Arctic.

It is also cited as an example of how the warming of the Arctic is letting the open movement of pathogens.

The parasite often found on cats is likely to be imported into the region by people who brought the animals as pets.

Its discovery by University of British Columbia scientists is especially noteworthy because Inuit people in the area often eat the whale’s meat raw or undercooked.

A health advisory has been issued regarding eating the flesh of Beluga.

Michael Grigg, a molecular parasitologist explains that the cold acts as a firewall of sorts against the stretch of certain pathogens.

“This is now emerging in the Arctic and there’s not much we can do about that. This is the new normal,” said Grigg.

The UBC Marine Mammal Research Unit scientist spoke at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

None of the estimation can accurately unveil the way through which these kitty bacteria made its way into the Beluga population.

They do suppose that as the cat population has amplified, there is more of a probability of catlike fecal matter getting into the ocean water.

“The transmissible stage of this parasite is an egg-like structure,” said Dr Grigg.

Toxoplasma gondii is omnipresent at lower latitudes, and is carried by many without any ill effects. It is a potential threat for pregnant women and those with weak immune systems.

According to Sue Moore, an oceanographer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, keeping an eye on sea mammals was one of the best ways to monitor changes in the Arctic. She called them “sentinels of change”.

“They reflect the changes that are occurring below them,” Moore said. “They may not be able to tell you every linkage, but if a sea mammal stops eating one thing and starts eating another that tell me there has been a big shift.”

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email

Filed Under: Tech & Science Tagged With: Beluga, cat, Global warming, parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, whales

Woman working out at the gym

Just 23% of Americans Are Working Out Enough in Their Spare Time

June 29, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Poliovirus Therapy Gives Brain Cancer Patients New Hope (Study)

June 29, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

United Airlines airplane

Passenger Mysteriously Dies on United Airlines flight Bound for Boston

June 28, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Breakfast sandwich

Here Are Some Foods No Nutritionist Would Ever Eat

June 27, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Poppy flower

UN Warns of Surge in Opium-based Drugs and Cocaine Supply

June 27, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

U.S.-Canada border

French Jogger Detained 2 Weeks for Accidentally Crossing Border

June 26, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Plus size model

Normalizing Plus Size Could Fuel Obesity Crisis (Study)

June 25, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Giant manta ray

Unique Manta Ray Nursery Spotted off Texas Coast

June 23, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

The rainbow flag

WHO Scraps Transgenderism from List of Mental Illnesses

June 22, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

456 People Dead at U.K. Hospital after Taking too Many Painkillers

June 21, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Kenyan girls dancing

Kenyans Facing Poor Nutrition as Supermarket Shopping Is on the Rise

June 20, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Pages

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy GDPR
  • Staff
  • Terms and Conditions

Recent Posts

  • Just 23% of Americans Are Working Out Enough in Their Spare Time
  • Poliovirus Therapy Gives Brain Cancer Patients New Hope (Study)
  • Passenger Mysteriously Dies on United Airlines flight Bound for Boston
  • Here Are Some Foods No Nutritionist Would Ever Eat
  • UN Warns of Surge in Opium-based Drugs and Cocaine Supply
  • French Jogger Detained 2 Weeks for Accidentally Crossing Border
  • Normalizing Plus Size Could Fuel Obesity Crisis (Study)

Related Articles

  • Crosses on a wall

    Religious People Live Longer, Are Less Stressed than Atheists, Study

    Jun 15, 2018
  • Antineutrino Detector

    Scientists Discover an Even More Elusive Particle than Neutrinos

    Jun 5, 2018
  • Funny Albert Einstein

    Time Travel Is Already Here

    May 30, 2018
  • Planet 2003UB313

    Scientists Found Evidence that Elusive Planet 9 May Be Real

    May 18, 2018
  • Kuiper Belt Object

    This Asteroid in Kuiper Belt Is Nothing Scientists Have Seen Before

    May 11, 2018
  • Elephant raising its trunk

    Elephants Communicate with Their Feet, Scientists Confirm

    May 9, 2018
  • Starbucks store

    Black Men Settle for $1 Each after Racist Arrest at Starbucks

    May 3, 2018
  • Tech addiction

    Facebook Pioneers Forming Coalition to Lobby Against Tech Addiction

    Feb 5, 2018
  • Kaspersky Co-founder Natalia Kasperskaya

    Kaspersky Boss: Bitcoin Was Created by U.S. Govt to Fund CIA’s Black Ops

    Feb 1, 2018
  • Amazon Go shopper

    Amazon Gets Rid of Cashiers at Its Check-Out Free Store

    Jan 30, 2018

Categories

  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • National News
  • Nature
  • Provo
  • Salt Lake News
  • Science
  • Sports
  • State News
  • Tech & Science
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • West Jordan
  • West Valley City
  • World

Copyright © 2023 utahpeoplespost.com

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Site Map · Contact